Aquanita doping scandal: Deadline for owners to show why they shouldn’t repay prizemoney
A significant number of owners embroiled in the Aquanita doping scandal have responded to show why their gallopers shouldn’t be disqualified — a possible ban which could lead to them being asked to repay prizemoney.
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Racing Victoria has received a “significant” number of responses from the owners of 81 horses facing disqualification over the Aquanita doping scandal.
The owners had until 5pm on Monday to give stewards reasons for their horses to avoid disqualification.
Should stewards proceed with the disqualification of any of the 81 horses, the affected owners could be asked to repay prizemoney.
Group 1 Myer Classic winner Politeness, former star filly Mosheen, and champion jumper Black And Bent are among the 81 horses threatened with disqualification.
Racing Victoria has committed to paying the balance of prizemoney missed to the owners of horses that finished behind disqualified Aquanita runners during the widespread doping scheme that ran from 2010-17.
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A decision on whether to pursue the connections of disqualified horses to return prizemoney rests with the Racing Victoria board.
Meanwhile, tributes emerged on Monday for Danny Garland, a stablehand embroiled in the scandal who lost a long battle with illness.
Though he served a lengthy ban, Garland consistently denied knowledge of any use of bi-carb syringes to “top up” horses before races.
Racing Victoria stewards have used 13 separate categories to classify levels of improper or dishonourable action involving the 81 horses.
Many of the affected owners of horses prepared by banned trainers Robert Smerdon, Tony Vasil and Stuart Webb sought legal action last month after receiving letters from RV stewards.
An annexure to RV’s letter referred to the Victorian Civil Administration Tribunal’s findings against seven racing figures involved in the clandestine doping scheme from 2010-17.
The categories range from a VCAT finding of actual administration of a bicarb mix to horses in circumstances where it was “blatantly obvious” which horse was illegally treated.
More than 1000 incriminating texts extracted from float driver Greg Nelligan’s mobile phone after he was caught “topping up” Lovani at Flemington in October 2017 formed the foundation of the case against the accused.
Some of the most prominent horses listed for potential disqualification include former star filly Mosheen, Myer Classic winner Politeness, Brungle Cry and Black And Bent.
RV has set aside a fund for the redistribution of prize money, but it has also warned owners it could seek to have prize money repaid under Australian rules of racing 224.
The Herald Sun has been told some of the seven people disqualified over the doping operation no longer have assets in their name, making the possibility of owners successfully suing any of the group for lost prize money remote.
The fallout of Australia‘s biggest alleged horse doping scandal could result in the possible repayment of up to $2m in prize money.
Politeness earned $300,000 winning the 2015 Group 1 Myer Classic, while Black And Bent banked about $200,000 for connections winning the 2011 Grand National Hurdle and 2012 Galleywood Hurdle.
Mosheen earned $90,000 for connections for second in 2011 Group 1 Thousand Guineas.
The managing owner or representatives of the 81 horses were given until today (Monday) to respond in writing as to why their horse should not be disqualified from the races in question.
Of the 81 starters, 24 were winners, 24 were minor placegetters and 33 were unplaced, with the prize money won by each varying from $300,000 to none at all.
More than half of them won less than $10,000 in the races in question.
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